wilkesboro-baptist-church

Upcoming Member Meeting Updates

Wed, 06 May 2026 18:45:02 GMT

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Investing In Your Spiritual Life

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:20:18 GMT

Church family,

Remember that we are "ambassadors of reconciliation." Our lesson from Wednesday, April 22, on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 reminded us of the importance of sharing with others the reconciliation and redemption we've received from Christ.

Would you continue praying for those who need the gospel? Invite them to church. Initiate a coffee or lunch conversation. Have them over for dinner. Share the gospel with them. As we enter the month of May, which is a busy month for families and our church as school finishes, programs end, holidays occur, and summer break begins, make sure you are investing in your spiritual life. Seasons of busyness necessitate time in the Word, in prayer, and in worship. Keep praying for marriages and families in our church.

For those who are married, mark down the following Marriage Enrichment Date Nights at WBC where childcare will be provided: Friday, July 17, and Wednesdays, July 29, August 12.

Merlefest and More

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:15:12 GMT

Church family, this Wednesday we will study 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. The passage details how followers of Jesus are ambassadors for reconciliation between sinners and God. Paul gives several reasons why we should share the gospel and lead others to meet and follow Jesus.

This week thousands of people will descend on Wilkes County at Merlefest. For those of you volunteering or participating in Merlefest, would you consider yourself an ambassador of the gospel to those you serve with and to those you will meet. Look for opportunities to speak to people about your faith and your Savior. Church, our mission is to "lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus."

When all is said and done and we find ourselves in eternity, the only thing that will really matter is the destination of our souls. Consider this for your children, grandchildren, neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances, etc. Pray for the lost. Invite them to worship with us.

Take them to coffee or lunch. Share the gospel with them. Invest in those who don't know Jesus and lead them to take their next step in following Jesus.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Hefner

Thank You

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:44:49 GMT

Church family,

Thank you WBC for the way you've cared for me and my family! Our church cares for people well. From meals, visits, cards, and prayers, our church loves those who are hurting, grieving, struggling, and in the hospital. I've experienced your care over the course of the past week with texts, prayers, phone calls, cards, meals, and love. We've needed our church family following my surgery, and you all came through. Thank you WBC for the way you've prayed for me and cared for my family.

It's a good time to reflect on our mission to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Where are you in your journey of following Jesus at WBC? Are you gathering for worship and engaging regularly? Do you have a Sunday school class or discipleship group or Bible study where you can learn? Are you serving somewhere? Are you replicating your ministry in the life of someone else?

Wherever you are in your journey, plan to take the next step this spring. Keep inviting people to join us as we watch what God is up to. The link below takes you to some of my thoughts about being in hospital over Easter weekend. I hope these observations encourage you.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Hefner

https://chrishefner.org/2026/04/10/easter-sunday-on-the-other-side-of-a-hospital-room-door/

Easter Recap

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:35:45 GMT

Church family,

What an Easter weekend! Easter should be big because it represents "the event" in salvation history. We ought to celebrate our risen Savior gloriously and greatly. Attendance records for Easter 2026 were broken, having to put out chairs for the 390 people that came to the 9:30 service! For me, the weekend did not go as I planned. After two painful days of stomach pain, I went to the ER early on Friday morning, April 3, to discover I had an infected and inflamed gallbladder with a gallstone blocking a bile duct. Over the weekend, I had surgery and came home late Sunday evening to recover. I was able to watch and worship during the live stream at the 9:30 service.

Church family, we need to recognize that God is doing something special at WBC. Lives are being changed, believers are becoming followers, and God is preparing us for what he has in store. Let me offer some special thanks for Sunday. Thanks to Pastor Tad for preparing an Easter sermon on 48 hours' notice, along with all his normal logistical work. Thanks to the choir, praise team, musicians, and our Minister of Music, Brian Price, for leading us musically in all three services! Sunday's music was outstanding and celebratory.

Thanks to the ushers who made extra space available at 9:30. Thanks to those in Sprout (nursery) for their availability at 9:30 and 11:00. Thanks to all the volunteers who made all the moving parts of Sunday's worship work. While I deeply missed you all in person on Sunday, I'm so grateful to be a part of a church and leadership team of elders, staff, deacons, and servants who helped make Easter so meaningful. May God continue to bless Wilkesboro Baptist Church. Keep inviting friends and acquaintances. You never know what God may do this week.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Leading Up To Easter

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:16:16 GMT

Church family, from Palm Sunday (March 29) to Easter Sunday (April 5), we have much to celebrate. Thank you to Brian Price, praise team, choir, and musicians for leading us in stellar musical worship on Palm Sunday. We already anticipate the celebratory worship on April 5.

This Wednesday, we will celebrate communion together during Awana Family Worship. The worship service will begin at 6:15 in the sanctuary. Please prepare your hearts for celebrating the table together with your church family. Keep praying for Easter at the Commons. On Saturday, April 4, at 10am, our women's ministry will be hosting a prayer walk for the Sunday service.

Pray for those who need Jesus, invite them to join with us, and save them a spot to worship next to you. Continue praying for good weather for the morning. Plan to arrive by 9:30 so you can find a parking place, set up your chair, and fellowship with friends and church members before the service. As you arrive, look for people you don't know. Speak to them, welcome them, get to know them.

We have a chance this Easter Sunday to be hospitable and set the table for people to hear and respond to the gospel.

For more thoughts on Holy Week, continue reading "From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday" linked here :

Last Sunday in James

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:58:38 GMT

Church family,

This past Sunday, we completed the letter of James. James invited his readers to pray when suffering and to praise when cheerful, to pray about sin and to confess sins to one another, to pray for the lost, and to share with the lost.

As we head into Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, here are some ways you can apply this past Sunday's message. First, commit to gathering with us over the next three weeks to praise God in song. Second, bring your concerns and needs to God in prayer. Third, pray for those who are lost and astray. Part of the application from Sunday was asking worshipers to write down the name(s) of people they knew were lost or had wandered from the faith.

Would you pray for that one or more person by name from today until Easter Sunday? Invite them to worship with us any Sunday over the next few weeks, but Easter Sunday would be a great opportunity. Let's not just be hearers of the word, but let's apply genuine faith by doing the word in prayer, praise, and sharing the gospel.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Chris

Member Meeting and Easter

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:30:05 GMT

Church family,

Thank you for your attendance, involvement, and participation in the March 15 Member Meeting. All three motions presented were approved. The 2025 budget surplus was allocated. Approval was given by the church to complete the purchase of 402 W. Main Street along with permission to the Strategic Planning Committee to negotiate and purchase 202 Woodland Blvd. Because of your generosity in previous years, we almost have enough in the Vision Fund to purchase both properties free and clear. We will give further updates at subsequent Member Meetings regarding plans for these properties.

We also had updates regarding Easter at the Commons (April 5) and regarding our church hospitality and guest welcoming strategy.

Here are some ways you can continue to be part of leading our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus.

First, keep inviting friends, family, and co-workers to worship with us.
Second, when you arrive for worship at 9:30 or 11:00, please sit in the interior sections of each row leaving space for people to gather around you.
Third, use the Easter Page on the website, Facebook, and printed invitations to invite people to join us for Easter at the Commons on April 5 at 10:00 AM.
Fourth, consider making contributions to the Vision Fund. Your one time gift would help us cover the cost for property acquisitions.

Consider making Wilkesboro Baptist Church a part of your financial or estate planning. Continue to pray for the Strategic Planning Committee, Elders, and Deacons as we research and plan for current and future growth needs at Wilkesboro Baptist. Grace and Peace!

Strategic Planning Committee and Bible Study

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:06:49 GMT

Church family,

This week we will have our Strategic Planning Committee Town Hall. We will share some of our process over the past year as well as updates ahead of our Member Meeting on Sunday. Please plan to attend the Town Hall and Member Meeting this week. Bring your favorite dish for us to share a family meal together. We continue to have new members join with several more attending our Next Steps Class yesterday . Look for people you don't know to enjoy fellowship with them at our Member Meeting on Sunday.

This week, we will have Easter at the Commons invitations ready. Easter is less than a month away. Would you begin praying for the person(s) you can invite? On Wednesday, March 18, at our adult Bible study, we will begin a brief study through 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 on the power of the gospel to open eyes and our role as Christ's ambassadors.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Chris

Upcoming Plans

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:27:07 GMT

Church family, I want to share with you several upcoming days in our church life. First, our Strategic Planning Committee has been working for the past year to review our growth trajectories as well as things we can do to address current and future growth needs.

In a letter sent at the end of 2025, we noted that we would have a Town Hall update/conversation in the new year. That Town Hall conversation will take place on Wednesday evening, March 11, during the Adult Bible Study window. We will share some important updates and take your questions. Second, as a follow-up to the Town Hall conversation on March 11, we will have our regular Member Meeting on March 15. One update you will receive at the Town Hall concerns property acquisition possibilities, which could come as a motion at the Member Meeting on March 15.

For those unable to attend the March 11 Town Hall, we will record and make available on our podcast channel by Thursday, March 12, ahead of the March 15 Member Meeting. Would you continue to pray for WBC, our Elders, Staff, Deacons, and Strategic Planning Committee?

Would you plan to attend the Town Hall where your questions will be welcome? Would you plan to attend the Member Meeting on March 15? Thank you again for the opportunity to take a few weeks to refresh and reset. I took advantage of those weeks to read, study, and write.

With the link that follows, here are some initial mini-reviews of some of the books I completed during my sabbatical: https://chrishefner.org/2026/03/02/a-sabbatical-reading-review/

Thank You For A Sabbatical

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:58:30 GMT

Church family, thank you for the opportunity to take a sabbatical. It was a timely season for rest, worship, and reset. I'm deeply grateful to the elders for leading and teaching in my absence, for the deacons and staff continuing to serve, and for your support as a congregation.

The timing was perfect as God let me grieve and reset instead of drowning myself in work, which would not have been good for me or for WBC. I've written some extended thoughts below about sabbatical and Sabbath, and plan to share some additional posts in the weeks to come about reading, writing, and Sabbath.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Hefner

https://chrishefner.org/2026/02/23/thank-you-wilkesboro-baptist-for-my-sabbatical/

Forty Days Until Easter

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:32:47 GMT

Easter Sunday (April 5) is roughly 40 days from this writing. Over the next few weeks, we will be preparing for the community Easter Egg Hunt in March. So, bring candy to fill the plastic eggs as we show the love of Jesus to our community.

We will have a special time of communion to celebrate and remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We will also have a wonderful celebration at the Wilkesboro Commons on Sunday morning. Start learning some songs now so you’ll be ready to sing out about the hope Jesus gives us through his resurrection.

There will be links in the email Beacon Newsletter to several songs we will be singing on April 5. Let’s prepare our hearts for this glorious celebration so everyone will see the mighty acts of God in our lives.

Senior/Youth Valentine's Banquet

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:53:50 GMT

Church Family,

On Sunday, February 15, the youth will serve the senior adults of the church at the annual Valentine Banquet. It is a wonderful opportunity to show service rooted in love. I am always encouraged to see people serving one another.

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, let’s reach out to our neighbors with the love of Christ. Continue seeking ways to serve through Christ’s love. If you are interested in serving, please reach out to the church office. We would love to share opportunities for service.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Tad

Thank You For Your Patient Faithfulness

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:27:26 GMT

Thank you, church, for being patient during these last few weeks with the winter weather coming to town. The elders and staff of WBC appreciate your flexibility as we navigate the obstacles that snow, ice, and cold temperatures bring. We try to make decisions out of an abundance of caution for everyone’s safety. Please continue to check email, the WBC website, and social media channels for special announcements.

We were able to have a modified worship service on Friday, January 30, at lunchtime to record and upload to YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo. Elder Steve Robinson and the worship team did a great job leading us through song and Scripture. I hope all those who watched the service later were blessed by the wonderful time of worship.

We should be able to join together in person this Sunday, February 8. I look forward to seeing everyone. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to the church office or an elder, and we will do our best to help this week.

In Christ Alone,
Pastor Tad

Thank You for Your Support

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:22:23 GMT

Church family,

I want to thank you for the love you showed my father over the years here at WBC. From deacons to the Women’s Ministry Care Team, to friends, staff, elders, and many others. Thank you. Thank you for the way you cared for me and our family this past Saturday at his memorial service. We felt your love through the cards, text messages, prayers, meals, and support at Saturday’s memorial.

Over the past few years, my dad said to me on a number of occasions, “I would like to get back to church.” Well, he wasn’t physically able during his illness, but I know he would have been moved by your outpouring of love and support for our family.

With deepest gratitude,

Pastor Chris and Family.

Upcoming Member Meeting

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:30:00 GMT

This coming Sunday, January 18, at 5:30 p.m., we will have our first member meeting of 2026. We will celebrate the financial blessings God gave our church in 2025 and hear about upcoming events from our children’s and worship ministries. After the meeting, we will gather for a time of fellowship with finger foods and desserts.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Chris as he mourns the loss of his father last week. He deeply values your prayers during this season of grieving, rest, and study. The elders of WBC are available for counsel and prayer; reach out to the church office to schedule a time to meet with an elder.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tad

Sabbatical

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:50:17 GMT

Church family, I want to thank the Personnel Committee and Elders for granting me a sabbatical. I will be in the office this week (January 5-11) and will preach on Sunday, January 11. My sabbatical will be January 12 through February 16. During that time, I have plans to read, write, rest, and refresh my soul.

You can be confident in the leadership and teaching/preaching while I’m out of the office. Your affirmation of our qualified elders has been a great blessing to me and a measure of health for Wilkesboro Baptist Church. On Sundays, Tad Craig and Steve Robinson are scheduled to preach on the book of James. On Wednesdays, each elder will take a Wednesday teaching slot working through the virtue list in 2 Peter 1:5-11.

Also, every Wednesday afternoon, an elder will be available in my office for counsel, prayer, or meeting with prospective church members. That schedule for elder availability will be posted in the Beacon and Worship Guide. During those five weeks, you will continue to see my family at church. I will be disconnecting from much communication during this season.

If you have a critical need, you can trust our pastors and elders to care for you. Here are some ways you can help me and WBC through this season. First, lead others to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Second, find a place to serve. If you aren’t serving, make time to talk to a pastor or elder about where you can serve. Third, pray for pastors, elders, deacons, and staff during these weeks where they will increase their workload. Fourth, pray for me during this season that I will rest in God and hear from God. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Grace and peace to you this season.

Pastor Chris

Reading Scripture in the New Year

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:43:56 GMT

Church family,

Our mission at WBC is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Our Journey Outcomes flow out of our mission and reflect a life of following Jesus.

Three of those outcomes that address our devotional life are: 1) Listen to God daily through Scripture and personal worship. 2) Record what God is speaking to share with group/community. 3) Be accountable to a person or group. The New Year is a great time to evaluate your devotional life of following Jesus and begin practicing Journey Outcomes if you are not already. If you do not have a Bible reading plan (listening to God daily), January 1 is a great time to start.

The main thing is consistency in reading/listening to God’s Word. Here’s a link to a number of Bible reading plan options. You can also download a Bible app (like the ESV Bible app) and discover Bible reading plans in the app. https://www.ligonier.org/posts/bible-reading-plans

Bible Reading Plans for 2026

Grace and Peace!

Pastor Chris

Merry Christmas Church Family

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:39:52 GMT

Merry Christmas, church family! We will gather for our Christmas Eve Communion services at 4 pm and 7 pm on Wednesday, December 24.

Beginning December 28, we will begin a new sermon series through the book of James entitled “Genuine Faith.” In preparation for this series, please read James 1 this week.

Merry Christmas, church family! We will gather for our Christmas Eve Communion services at 4 pm and 7 pm on Wednesday, December 24. and send out by mail and email the week of December 29. We will have no activities at the church on Wednesday, December 31.

If you do not have a Bible reading plan (listening to God daily), January 1 is a great time to start. The main thing is consistency in reading/listening to God’s Word. Here’s a link to a number of Bible reading plan options.

You can also download a Bible app (like the ESV Bible app) and discover Bible reading plans in the app. https://www.ligonier.org/posts/bible-reading-plans?srsltid=AfmBOorZ75bY0nTNflSpdYPeOlhSSj9HCDyNVq4_7pCLNQG279RzO71_

Christ Our King Advent Celebration

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:50:43 GMT

Church family, what musical celebration yesterday! I want to say a special thank you to Brian Price, the praise team, choir, and audio/video technicians for leading us in musical worship for all three services. The music was moving and elevated Christ our King. It was a great day of Advent celebration.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve approved our 2026 budget, baptized 5 new members, celebrated with a great musical program, and reflected on the gifts that Jesus gives to us at Advent. Keep inviting friends, family, and neighbors to worship with us.

We love seeing new faces and getting an opportunity to introduce people to Jesus. I was speaking with a visitor who came to faith in Christ last week. He told me something beautiful. He and his family were invited by a church member, but he kept coming back because he felt like this was “home.” He felt welcomed and named specific people who made him feel welcome.

Thank you church family! Keep looking for people you don’t know on Sundays and introducing yourself to them.

Grace and Peace!

Pastor Chris

Remembering Emmanuel

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:08:57 GMT

Church family,

In the busyness of this Christmas season, let’s take advantage of our access to the Father through prayer and the privilege of pausing for worship gatherings. Thank you for all the ways you are serving others this season and enjoying worship and community at WBC! Grace and peace to you all this holiday season.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Bruce Nisley Approved as Lay Elder

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:23:02 GMT

Church family, you overwhelmingly approved Bruce Nisley to serve as a lay elder at Wilkesboro Baptist with your vote nearing 92% approval. Our elders serving into 2026 are as follows: Chris Hefner and Tad Craig (staff elders); Steve Melton (beginning his second three year term January 2026); Steve Robinson (beginning his final year of his first term beginning January 2026); Tam Hutchinson (beginning his second year of his first term in January 2026); Dustin Deal (beginning his first year of first term November 2025); Bruce Nisley (beginning his first year of first term December 2025); Marsh Lyall (completing his three year term December 2025).

Deacon ballots have been mailed to the congregation and are due on December 7. Please turn them into the church office or bring them with you to worship on December 7. Also on December 7, we will vote on the proposed 2026 church budget as a part of the Sunday morning worship services.

Please pray for your church staff, elders, and deacons as we lead and serve the church in the coming months. On Wednesday, December 10 during the adult Bible study time, we will have an ordination service for Dustin Deal as elder as well as an installation service for Bruce Nisley. This will be in the Fellowship Hall at 6:15 pm.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Thank You For Giving

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:32:11 GMT

Church family, thank you for your generosity! On the first Sunday in October, you gave $45,000 for our annual mission offering. On the first Sunday in November, you gave $ for the Gideon offering. Also, in the last month, you filled up well over 200 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes, have taken all the Angel Tree angels, and are bringing pumpkin pies for His Light Ministries.

This is all in addition to the handful of Sunday school classes that regularly provide a meal for His Light and the other local mission partners served. Many of you have provided meals for members in the hospital or at situations of grief. Thank you for being the body of Christ--his hands and his feet to serve our neighbors and the nations!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Thank You For Inviting Your Neighbors

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 02:06:27 GMT

Church family, thank you for inviting people to visit with us at WBC. Parents, thank you for bringing your children to church/Awana and for talking with them about faith. The vast majority of our baptisms this year have come from children whose parents have shared their faith with them and from church members who have invited friends and family to WBC.

When you invite others to worship, and they come to faith in Christ, that’s replicating. That’s what it means to lead our neighbors to follow Jesus. Keep it up! Thank you for participating in our Member Meeting and 2026 budget presentation on Nov. 16.

Your faithfulness to give, participate, and grow is an inspiration and encouragement to others. Grace and Peace to you this week!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Dustin Deal Confirmation Vote Successful

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 22:12:15 GMT

Church family,

Thank you for your prayers, support, and participation in church decisions. Your vote regarding Dustin Deal as an elder was overwhelming: 97% approved of Dustin serving as an elder.

Here are several other opportunities for engagement by church members in the coming weeks: Member Meeting Nov. 16 at 5:30 (Committee/Ministry Updates; Strategic Planning Committee Update; 2026 Budget Review); Elder vote on Bruce Nisley Nov. 30; Deacon ballots due on Dec. 7; 2026 Budget vote on Dec. 7.

Thank you for your faithfulness in giving and serving during this fall season. As we move into the holiday season, keep praying for unbelievers, inviting them to church, and sharing Christ with them.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Baptisms and Wednesday Night Plans

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:35:28 GMT

Church family,

Thank you for your participation and donations for our fall activities over the past week. We had a great celebration of baptism at our 11 am service on Sunday. It is a beautiful thing to see God at work.

We were able to baptize an eight year old whose parents have done an excellent job building a framework for the gospel, a converted Buddhist Chinese national who came to faith more than 20 years ago, and a converted Mormon. God is a work! Keep praying. Keep inviting. Keep sharing.

Over the next few Wednesday nights, we’ll work through the short pastoral epistle to Titus. Hope you can join us on Wednesdays for this study.

Thank You for Pastor Appreciation

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:35:08 GMT

Church family, thank you for your generosity for pastor appreciation month. Our pastoral staff and leaders feel loved and blessed! One of the best things you can do for your church leaders is to participate in the life of the church in two specific ways.

First, thank you for joining our mission to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Second, thank you for participating in the life of the church through votes and nominations (elders, deacons, and Member Meetings). We’ve linked a blog post for you with the two elder testimonies for Dustin Deal and Bruce Nisley .

The post also details the vetting and interview process for elder candidates. Please be prayerful this season with upcoming elder votes (Nov. 9, Dustin Deal, and Nov. 30, Bruce Nisley), Member Meeting (Nov. 16), deacon ballots due (Dec. 7), and 2026 church budget vote (Dec. 7).

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Hefner

Church Elder Nominees

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:57:37 GMT

Elder Nomination and Vetting Process

Church family, we're in our final year of the first three years of having a plurality of elders. January 2023 saw us begin with Marsh Lyall, Steve Melton, and Vince Adams. Lay elders serve a three year term and, if willing, can serve an additional three year term. At the conclusion of 2025, Marsh Lyall elected not to serve a second term. Steve Melton has elected to serve a second term. And we lost Vince Adams earlier this year.

In January 2024, WBC affirmed Steve Robinson and Gary Buffaloe as lay elders. Steve has one year left on his first term. Gary has elected to step away from his elder responsibilities to move with his family to Lake Lure, NC for Lindsey to work at a Christian Camp. In January 2025, WBC affirmed Tam Hutchinson as a lay elder. He has two years remaining on his term.

The elder nomination and vetting process is important for the life and health of WBC. Elders take this responsibility seriously and have made inquiries and nominations of several men in the life of WBC. We also have accepted nominations from church members. The two nominees that we have so far in the fall of 2025 are Dustin Deal and Bruce Nisley. When a candidate is nominated, we have an informal conversation to see if the candidate "aspires to the office of elder" (1 Tim. 3:1). If the candidate says, "No," then the process stops there. If the candidate says, "Yes," then we follow the vetting process. The candidate receives a detailed doctrinal and character questionnaire. When the questionnaire is completed, the elders review the answers and set up an interview. The interview is aimed at discerning the following qualifications for the candidate: character (above reproach), competency (ability to function as an elder), and chemistry (understanding of and fit with church leadership structure). Before an elder candidate can be presented to the church for a vote, the current body of elders is required to be unanimous. This is the only vote where we as elders demand unanimity. In other words, the vetting and presenting process for elders is quite intensive and very similar to that of a pastor or minister candidate for WBC.

WBC, by organization and structure, is elder-led and congregational-governed. This means that the elders are responsible for setting the direction of the church through shepherding, preaching, teaching, caring, leading, and serving. However, final decisions for WBC, such as budget votes, non-budgeted expenditures, staff positions, and deacon/elder voting, are still brought before the congregation. The way WBC has voted on these items changed minimally, if at all, in our addition of elders in the life of the church. When candidates Dustin Deal (Nov. 9) and Bruce Nisley (Nov. 30) are presented for a vote (secret ballot), church members are responsible to vote. Elders are not appointed by the elders but voted on by the congregation.

At the bottom of this post, we will link to the testimonies that Dustin and Bruce have shared. Dustin is no stranger to WBC. He's been at WBC almost since his teenage years and has served as a Sunday school teacher, discipleship group leader, deacon, and staff member. Bruce is not as well known, and I would encourage you to listen to his testimony following the link below. I think Dustin's service at WBC speaks for itself, but let me highlight a few reasons why the elders unanimously present Bruce as a candidate.

In the late summer, we approached Bobby Parsons (longtime church member, deacon, and church leader) about the role of elder. He politely declined but indicated that he knew someone who would make a good candidate. Bobby proceeded to nominate Bruce Nisley. In keeping with our policy, we followed the exact same vetting process for Bruce that we followed for Dustin (and each previous lay elder candidate). While we understand Bruce has been at our church for only about 3 years, he brings a theological and ministry perspective that we believe will be a great asset to WBC. In a previous church, he served 3 terms (9 years) as a lay elder overseeing the missions of the church. Currently, he is a co-teacher in Pat's Sunday School Class. As an employee for Samaritan's Purse (SP), Bruce also brings a connection with a growing membership at WBC. Having SP located in N. Wilkesboro has brought many new faces and members to WBC. Having a lay elder who understands the dynamics of working for SP and navigating the travel components of that job, we believe, will be a great asset for the members of WBC who are also employees at SP.

While Bruce will have some travel coming up in early November, he will lead the confession and prayer time on November 23. If you would like to set up a time for a conversation to get to know Bruce about this elder nomination, please reach out to the church office or message Pastor Chris or Pastor Tad. We will be happy to create a connection for you. In all these things, please continue praying for your church leaders (elders, deacons, staff). Pray for other candidates in the elder consideration process. Pray for the nominated deacons and the deacon vote coming up next month.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Hefner

Family

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:48:48 GMT

Church family,

What a great picnic on Sunday! It was so good to see so many of you share a meal with us last night. I’m so grateful for deacons and staff putting our mission into action by serving yesterday. Being a part of a church family carries privileges and responsibilities, joys and struggles.

On Sunday, we worshiped loudly and joyously, baptized an 8 year old, had another 8 year old pray to receive Jesus, and celebrated a meal together at our picnic. We also had the memorial service for a longtime church member, Roy Phillips, who has struggled with severe health issues for a number of years. In our congregation yesterday, many are fighting health challenges, walking with family through the valley of the shadow of death, and grieving.

Paul wrote in Romans 12:15 that we are to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Thank you WBC for being a “family,” where we laugh, worship, celebrate, share, serve, cry, suffer, struggle, and mourn together. This is part of what it means to be the body of Christ, his family.

Grace and Peace,
Dr. Hefner

Church Picnic | Sunday, October, 19

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:47:31 GMT

Church family,

We’re looking forward to the church picnic on Sunday, October 19! We meet at the Watson Stage at Wilkes Community College from 5 to 7 pm. The picnic is a great time to visit with one another, meet new people, and talk with deacons and elders.

Bring your favorite foods to share and enjoy time with your church family. One of my favorite things about WBC is the number of people living out our mission of leading our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by serving. It takes a small army of servants/leaders to make Sunday mornings and mid-week ministries happen.

And for our picnic, pay attention to how many people are serving, sharing, and making the event happen. WBC, we ought to be exceedingly grateful to our staff, deacons, and elders who serve our congregation. Hope to see you on Sunday for worship and then for the picnic!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Chris

Introducing Elder Candidate Dustin Deal

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:16:09 GMT

Church Family,

Thank you for your participation in leadership decisions at WBC. You should have received by mail the deacon nomination forms. Please prayerfully consider who you should nominate to be a deacon. We want to introduce you to a candidate for elder, Dustin Deal.

Grace and Peace this week,

Dr. Hefner

ELDER CANDIDATE

Dustin Deal came to Christ as a young child and began attending the youth group at Wilkesboro Baptist Church in middle school at the invitation of many of his closest friends. He became a member at the age of 16 in June of 2001. He is married to his high-school sweetheart, Whitney Deal, and they have three daughters: Glory Maeve, Mercer, and Ruthie. The Deals lived and worked away from Wilkes after college before finding their way back home (and back to WBC) in 2012. Dustin was a praise team volunteer for many years before joining our staff on a part-time basis as Minister of Music.

He served in that role from January 2022-September 2024. Additionally, he served on the Pastor Search Committee (2014-2015), as a Deacon (ordained in 2015), and as an adult Sunday School teacher. Currently, Dustin is active teaching High School Sunday school and still participates in the worship team. On Friday mornings, you can find him at Cagney’s in a discipleship great group. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree from NC State University and co-owns an insurance agency in Wilkesboro with his sister. He is a lifelong musician and music lover, an avid reader, a student of God's word, and loves life and adventures with his wife and three daughters.

Dustin will be sharing during the adult Bible study window on Wednesday night, October 15. He will lead in the confession and prayer time on Sunday morning, October 19. At both of those opportunities, Dustin will be available for questions you may have. The church will vote on Dustin Deal for the role of Elder on Sunday morning November 9.

Who Can You Lead?

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:55:40 GMT

Church Family,

Thank you for your participation in our mission to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus. As a follow u p to our recent series, reflect on where you are on your own mission journey. Which step are you on? Worship? Learn? Serve? Replicate? Pick up a bookmark at church that highlights the 8 Journey Outcomes that articulate our mission and our mission steps. Ask yourself, “Who can I lead to take the next step in following Jesus?”

Pray and prepare for this our annual mission offering this Sunday October 5. 100% of everything given will go to mission partners.

Grace and Peace this week,

Dr. Hefner

September Member Meeting Recap

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:24:38 GMT

Church Family,

Thank you for your regular participation in the life of the church. We had a fruitful Member Meeting last night where we gave ministry updates and addressed church business. The church approved the following three motions. We approved up to $8500 to replace the two projectors in the fellowship hall, moving around $76,900 from 2024 surplus funds to the WBC Vision Fund (current/future planning), and the 6 ^th Amended and Revised Bylaws.

We’re finishing up our sermon series: “Follow Jesus: Living a Life that Lasts” with a specific opportunity to apply this sermon series. Would you plan to invite friends, family, neighbors to church during the months of October and November. Our sermon series will be “Reject or Receive: Why Some Believe and Why Some Don’t.” Specifically, we will warn those who don’t have faith and invite those here to receive God’s offer of salvation.

Let me share a public thank you to our office staff. Barbara Adams and Betsy McNeil do so much to support the mission of our church. Barbara added the financial administrative work last year and is doing an excellent job in all aspects of her job. Her temperament and grace in serving our church family are indispensable. Last year, we added Betsy McNeil in our communications department.

She’s responsible for a lot of things, but her creative work on designs and media have elevated our communication strategies. She did the design for the Journey Outcomes bookmark we passed out on Sunday. When you see Barbara and Betsy, give them a thank you for the way they serve our church and help fulfill our mission of leading our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus.

Grace and Peace this week,

Dr. Hefner

We Serve to Follow Jesus

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:20:09 GMT

We Serve to Follow Jesus

If you think of the most influential people in your life, you are likely to think of people who served or sacrificed for you in a specific way. Mothers and fathers, friends and family, teachers and coaches, leaders and pastors: those in your lives who influenced you are those who set aside time to be with you, their energy to serve you, their ambitions to help you accomplish yours, and on we could go. I would venture an educated guess that the people who have influenced you most have served you in some quantifiable way.

I don't believe this is accidental by the way. Even contemporary leadership theories have adopted a "servant leadership" methodology because serving others genuinely and unreservedly is a very real way to influence and lead.

One of the steps in our mission to follow Jesus is serving. We follow Jesus by serving. There are at least two specific reasons for this. First, who Jesus is--the Servant Savior. Jesus was extraordinarily other-oriented. He was always meeting the needs of others. Yet, he is also the Savior who commanded "Follow me." Jesus is the One we're following, and he served. So must we. Second, what Jesus commands--that we serve others. Jesus told his followers in John 20:21, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." This is John's version of the Great Commission. Jesus came to serve and to save (Mark 10:45). Jesus tells us that we are sent as he was sent--with a mission to save (for us sharing the gospel that has the power to save) and a mission to serve (putting others first).

The two Journey Outcomes that flow out of this mission step are: 1) Grow in Christlikeness and 2) Put others first by serving at home, in the church, in our neighborhoods, and to the nations. Growing in Christlikeness is one of God's purposes in saving us. See Romans 8:29 where God has predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. We can become like Jesus by being with Jesus (the worship and learning outcomes) and by doing what Jesus did (the serving outcomes). The more time we spend with Jesus and the more we do what Jesus did, the more pathways God has in our lives to make us like Christ. The second Journey Outcome here is more concrete. When we put others first by serving them (wherever we are), we are following Jesus. Are you putting your spouse first? Putting your parents first? Putting your children first? Putting your church family first? Putting your colleagues first? Neighbors? Friends? The nations? You get the idea.

Practically, every church member should find a way to serve at WBC. If you don't have a place to serve, follow the serve link here on our website and sign up for a place to put someone else first at WBC.

Let's follow Jesus together by serving alongside one another.

Learning to Follow Jesus

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:12:33 GMT

Learning to Follow Jesus

The life of a disciple is to be a learner. There are many things we need to learn about Jesus, but there are also a great many things we need to learn to do from Jesus.

In the Great Commission, Jesus commissioned his followers to teach "them to observe all things" that he commanded. "Them" is us. "Them" are all the followers of Jesus after the witness of the disciples. "Observe" is obey or keep. So learning is more than merely understanding, it is application.

There are two truths about learning that help us grasp our responsibility to follow Jesus by learning. First, l earning is not information transfer; it is transformation. The aim of what we learn from God is to change the way we live. While we're comfortable with learning in a "classroom" or gathering information from a lecture, biblical learning is more about application and life change than merely grasping a concept. God invites us to learn about Jesus so that we can become like Jesus. Second, learning is not a box we check; it is a life we live. The Journey Outcomes we will discuss below and the disciplines of our spiritual lives are not merely boxes to check. They are on-ramps or pathways for us to relate to God and hear from God. The invitation to salvation is an invitation to live a life of following Jesus.

How do we learn to follow Jesus? Let me offer three Journey Outcomes that offer explanation.

Listen to God daily through Scripture and personal worship.
Record what God is speaking to share with group/community.
Be accountable to a person or group.

We should think of reading the Bible as listening to God. This reminds us that Bible reading and prayer are to be a conversation with God. We hear from God when we read/listen to the Word. We talk to God when we pray. To make what we read/hear from God meaningful, memorable, and lasting, we should record it. If you haven't done this, try answering a few questions from your reading such as: What does this passage tell me about God? What does this passage tell me about myself? What do I need to do from this passage? Finally, accountability is for protection, direction, and correction. I am accountable to my Discipleship Group each week to share something I've recorded. Accountability for the learning step of our mission happens in groups like Sunday school, discipleship groups, or Bible studies. If you are interested in taking this learning step by finding a group, let us know.

Learning to follow Jesus is a life that will last forever.

Responding With The Gospel

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:41:18 GMT

Church Family,

Last Wednesday afternoon, conservative, Christian spokesperson Charlie Kirk was assassinated. The political divisiveness in our country continues to escalate. Churches all across the country saw an increased attendance (ours also) in response to the events of last week. Just a quick glance at the news or social media has kept the events of last week in the forefront of our minds. It would be good to remember a few things.

First, Christians are going to always be (have always been) marginalized, persecuted, attacked, and martyred. The USA, with its claim to religious freedom, has been an exception. But with the growing political and ideological divisions in our country, we should not be surprised by events like we’ve witnessed (school shootings, murders, escalating violence, with some focused on Christians).

Second, followers of Jesus should respond through lament, confession, and gospel witness. We should lament and pray for awakening and revival. We should look within at the condition of our own hearts and confess our sins. The basic condition of the Christian heart should recognize his or her own spiritual bankruptcy (Mt. 5:3) and confession that we need God’s mercy (Luke 18:13).

We should respond to our neighbors, in our own country, and the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The brokenness and sin that divides our country can only be healed through a relationship with Jesus Christ. For more on last week’s event follow this link .

Grace and Peace this week,

Dr. Hefner

Following Jesus Begins with Worship

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:44:13 GMT

Church family, following Jesus begins with worship. The culmination of our journey as followers of Jesus will be worship in God’s presence in heaven. This means that it is biblically untenable for a Christian to live life without worshiping Jesus. You might be a Christian and not worship Jesus; that is possible. But you cannot be following Jesus and not worship Jesus.

Thank you for gathering with us this past week in corporate worship. If you weren’t able to make it, I would encourage you to watch the sermon online this week. The first step in our mission of leading our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus is worship.

The two journey outcomes for worship are: 1) Say or sing praise to God daily from Scripture and in prayer. 2). Engage intentionally in gathered worship. (Gather weekly, sing joyfully, listen attentively, take notes, give generously).

Let me encourage you to put a few things on your personal or family calendar. First, I would suggest that you put Sunday AM worship on your calendar. If it’s important enough to be on your calendar, it will be a good regular reminder to gather with fellow believers. Second, please put September 21 at 5:30 on your calendar for our 5th Member Meeting of the year. We have several items for the members to address.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Hefner

Worship to Live a Life that Lasts

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:12:00 GMT

Engaged worship lasts.

When you have nothing else to think about, what does your mind run to? This is a good way to test our worship and even our idols. If our minds run to a person, security, a career, something out there in the future, then maybe that thing is what we most long for—maybe that thing is an idol—what we’re worshiping. If our minds run to something we have (a person, thing, or experience), maybe that thing is an idol. It is easy to see when we’re completely still and our minds have nothing required of them, what do our minds move to? Career, pleasure, security, desire, person, smartphone? Or God himself? If you are a follower of Jesus, in love with God, and a worshiper of Christ, your mind should often run to the glory, grandeur, worth, praise, majesty, and beauty of God through Jesus Christ.

As followers of Jesus who have experienced the gracious redemption of a glorious Savior, contemplating God through Christ is an act of worship. Anselm put it this way, "God is that, than which nothing greater can be conceived." You will not think a better or more lasting thought today than any true thought you think about God in worship.

The two Journey Outcomes for worship are as follows:

Personal: Say or sing praise to God daily from Scripture and in prayer.

Corporate: Engage intentionally in gathered worship. (Gather weekly, sing joyfully, listen attentively, take notes, give generously).

Let me encourage you this week to make time to say or sing praise to God daily. Tell him his greatness. Ascribe to him his worth. Praise him for his glory. Thank him for his goodness to you. Daily worship and praise should be the way we live.

When you come to worship this upcoming Sunday, plan to be engaged. Sing, listen, take notes, give, and participate in worship.

To get very practical for a moment, let me make a recommendation to you. Would you take whatever calendar you use and put your Sunday morning worship on the calendar? This will do two things. First, it sets worship as a priority. Things that go on the calendar in our shared google calendar are things we don't want to forget. So just the act of putting your gathered worship on the calendar is a way to set a priority. Second, it will remind you that you're missing worship if you put an event on your calendar that overlaps on a Sunday. I understand there are reasons we can't have perfect attendance for gathered weekly worship (work, sickness, travel). But I'm afraid too many professing Christians treat gathered worship as something to do if nothing else is happening.

Biblically, it is untenable to be a Christian who does not regularly gather for worship. It is impossible to follow Jesus without worshiping Jesus. Gathered worship for the follower of Jesus should be a priority.

You may find it beneficial to put your daily devotion (Bible reading, prayer, and personal worship) on a calendar as well. I have it on a weekly calendar that I use for personal scheduling and keeping my life on track.

Let's put this past Sunday's sermon into action and worship personally each day and corporately as we gather this upcoming Sunday.

New Sermon Series: Follow Jesus - Living a Life that Lasts

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 15:49:53 GMT

Church Family,

This Sunday, we begin a four week sermon series entitled, Follow Jesus: Living a Life that Lasts. While we will look at complementary passages, this four week study will focus intently on Jesus’ Great Commission from Matthew 28:16-20. This series is intended to be a reminder of our mission: leading our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus, and our four mission steps: worship (Sept. 7), learn (Sept. 14), serve (Sept. 21), and replicate (Sept. 28).

We follow Jesus at WBC by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Our aim is not just to be attenders or even members, but to be followers of Jesus. In this series, we’re going to invite you to consider where you are on your journey as a follower of Jesus and to take the next step. Pay attention to our church communication over the next weeks.

We’re going to provide you with practical outcomes for following Jesus in these four steps and assessment questions for your own spiritual journey. Let’s follow Jesus together and invite others to begin their journey as Christ-followers.

Grace and Peace this week,

Dr. Hefner

Following Jesus Journey Outcomes

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 17:56:18 GMT

Follow Jesus: Living a Life that Lasts

It's hard to believe, but I've been at WBC for ten years now. Not long after I arrived, we began asking questions about our church. We asked of nearly everything, "Why are we doing this ministry, this program, or this event?" That season of evaluation resulted in a redefined mission and articulation of how we're accomplishing that mission at WBC.

The commission that Jesus gave his followers in Matthew 28 is to "make disciples." While there are many things that happen in a church and many activities in a church, there is only one primary mission of the church: "making disciples." You can think of it this way. Church can be successful at music, preaching, groups, events, programs, or studies. Church can make people feel welcome. But at "That Day" (the Day when Jesus judges), the only thing that will really matter about our lives and about the church (for us WBC), is whether or not we made disciples.

Our mission at WBC is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus . We do this through four specific mission steps: worship, learn, serve, replicate . These steps form the focus of our programs and ministries.

This September 2025, our sermon series will be "Follow Jesus: Living a Life that Lasts." This series is intended to be a reminder of our mission and our four mission steps: Worship (Sept. 7), Learn (Sept. 14), Serve (Sept. 21), and Replicate (Sept. 28). This study will explore deeply the Great Commission text in Matthew 28:16-20 along with complementary passages that explain and apply our mission.

Our aim is not just to be attenders or even members, but to be followers of Jesus. In this series, we’re going to ask you to consider where you are on your journey as a follower of Jesus.

We've developed 8 Journey Outcomes that derive from our mission steps. You can think of these outcomes as applications or goals. We will address them in each sermon this month. Look for a future post that offers assessment questions to go along with these outcomes.

If we are leading our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus through our missions steps at WBC, these outcomes should be true of us.

Journey Outcomes

Say or sing praise to God daily from Scripture and in prayer. #worship
Engage intentionally in gathered worship. (Gather weekly, sing joyfully, listen attentively, take notes, give generously). #worship
Listen to God daily through Scripture and personal worship. #worship/learn
Record what God is speaking to share with group/community. #learn
Be accountable to a person or group. #learn
Grow in Christlikeness (Be with Jesus in worship and Word, experience conviction and confession, love others). #learn/serve
Put others first by serving (serve at home, church, neighbors, nations). #learn/serve
Lead others to take their next step in following Jesus (lead others to worship, learn, serve, replicate). #replicate

Are these outcomes true in your life? What is the next step you can take to follow Jesus or to lead others to follow Jesus?

Mercies of the Book of Psalms

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:15:03 GMT

Church Family,

Our summer sermon series, Sovereignty and Struggle: Hope from the Bible’s Songbook , has been especially meaningful to me. I’m deeply grateful for God’s mercy expressed in the book of Psalms and trust that you have been encouraged as well. In the Psalms, we discover God’s invitation to emotional vulnerability and analytical thinking.

More importantly, we find reasons to praise and glorify God as Creator, Redeemer, and King. In Psalm 34:18, David testifies, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” There are many in our church family who find themselves brokenhearted and troubled in spirit. Would you pray for them today? If you are not already reading the Bible every day and listening as God speaks to you through his Word, would you begin reading and praying through the Psalms daily?

Consider reading one to three Psalms each day. Pause when a verse stands out. Pray it. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Let God’s word speak to you regularly.

Grace and Peace this week,

Dr. Hefner

Deacon Ministry Banquet

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:53:28 GMT

Church family, at church on August 17, our deacons hosted their deacon ministry members (widows, widowers, shut-ins, etc.). It is a blessing to be a part of a church that serves! In Acts 6, you can read about the first deacons waiting tables and ministering in the first church. Our deacons yesterday modeled that approach. Watching them bring meals, coffee, desserts, host tables, and have conversations exemplifies the serve step of our church mission.

Thank you deacons for serving here at WBC! I also want to thank the women’s ministry care team for all the meals they provide church members in need. Landon and Ashley House, as well as deacon leaders and their wives, thank you for planning, coordinating, decorating, and organizing yesterday’s meal! It is an honor to serve alongside you as we care for our church family and lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus.

Grace and Peace this week,

Pastor Chris

Pray for El Salvador and Church Updates

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:22:07 GMT

Church Family,

Pray this week for our mission team serving in El Salvador. Pray also for students, teachers, and parents as school begins this month.

Here is a word from the Elders. At the July Member Meeting, we noted the Sixth Revised and Amended Bylaws for your review. After that presentation, we received a friendly amendment to the presented bylaws. The amendment sentence is found in Article III Church Membership, Section 6 Church Discipline, in the final paragraph of the section. The added sentence is the next to last sentence in the paragraph and reads: “Any member who is currently involved in the church discipline process as determined by the Elders may not voluntarily terminate their membership until the church discipline process has been completed.”

We believe this recommended edit clarifies the expectation for church discipline and have updated the revision to include this sentence in the version to be voted on at our September 21 meeting. We will resend the updated versions of the bylaws (one with visible edits and clean copy) by email to the church congregation the week of August 11. Our bylaws require a thirty (30) day notice before voting on changes. Consider this announcement notice of the amendment.

Please note that on Wednesday evening September 3 during our regular adult Bible Study time at 6:15PM in the Fellowship Hall, we will have a town hall question and answer concerning the proposed bylaw revisions. Please bring questions to this town hall meeting on September 3. If you would like to have a conversation with any of our Elders privately regarding these proposed bylaw revisions or generally about the church, please know that we will make ourselves available. The simplest way to request a meeting would be to contact an Elder directly or to contact Barbara Adams at the church office.

Grace and Peace to you this week,

WBC Elders

Missions and Leadership School Update

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 01:21:28 GMT

Church Family,

Thank you for your ongoing support of missions at WBC! Your regular giving allows us to allocate 20% of our annual budget to mission partners, local and global. We heard yesterday what great things God did through our student ministry mission trip to Avery County. On August 6, several of the team members who went to Moscow, VT, will be sharing about the work done on that mission trip.

To all our teachers, Bible study leaders, discipleship group leaders, etc., we want to invite you to register for the fall semester of our Leadership Courses . Our topic is “Teaching to Change Lives.”

At WBC, our mission is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Our Leadership School is designed to replicate leaders in the life of our church. Those of us responsible for church communication and teaching want to improve and grow our capacity for teaching. Consider this post an invitation to register for the Leadership School Fall 2025. You can find more details and the course syllabus here on our website.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

July Church Update

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:22:40 GMT

July was a pretty amazing month for WBC. We had people join the church nearly every Sunday, celebrated baptism, welcomed Brian Price to our church staff, had a meaningful Member Meeting, and had two mission teams serve our neighbors in Avery County, NC and Moscow, VT.

Remember, our mission is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Engaging and investing in our mission leads to the gospel being shared, followers of Jesus being encouraged, and mission work being accomplished. Thank you for your ongoing support of the mission of WBC by gathering to worship with us, learning alongside one another, serving others, and replicating the life of Jesus in our neighbors and the nations.

Pray for one another and for the programs and ministries of our church as we move toward our regular fall programming in the coming weeks.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Member Meeting Update and Mission Teams

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:57:39 GMT

Church Family,

Our Member Meeting on July 20 was an eventful one. Our church approved additional repair expenditures for the Mission House up to $15,000 and approved a part-time Women’s Ministry Director Position. We celebrated our hospitality team and care teams, gave several property and ministry related updates and heard an update from the Strategic Planning Committee. In response to Sunday night’s meeting, let’s be thankful. Since we purchased Helen Elledge’s house (the Mission House), it has been used by a church intern, by the Associational Missionary, by a family whose house burned down, by a refugee family, by a missionary family, and now by our Minister of Music and his family. The faithfulness and forward thinking of the church has allowed us to meet very real needs and show hospitality.

In response to last night’s meeting, let’s be prayerful. Pray for the student mission team in Avery County and the adult mission team in Moscow, VT. Pray for the right person to serve as our Women’s Ministry Director. Pray for the church as we consider the Sixth Amended and Revised Bylaws. In response to last night’s meeting, let’s continue to be faithful in giving.

Whatever current/future growth course is recommended by the Strategic Planning Committee to the Elders and whatever the Elders might recommend, renovation, expansion, and property acquisition will be costly. If you are able, consider making a donation to the WBC Vision Fund. The purpose of this fund is for current/future growth options.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Baptism and Member Meeting

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:49:09 GMT

Church family, w e will gather for our Member Meeting on Sunday afternoon at 5:30PM. At this meeting we will provide updates on several important items for our church: membership, Bylaw revision, student and children’s ministries, property, mission trips, and Strategic Planning Committee.

We also have two motions for the church to address. The first motion concerns renovation/repair expenses for the Mission House. The second motion is a recommendation from the Elders to create a part-time position entitled Director of Women’s Ministries. Members, it is our obligation to be engaged and involved in the life of WBC.

Our polity, congregational with Elder leadership, means that final decision-making rests with the congregation. By attending and participating in Member Meeting decisions, you are fulfilling your responsibility as a church member. Please bring a side dish, finger food, or dessert, so we can gather as a church family afterward. See you Sunday!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Chris

Welcoming Brian Price and Family

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:04:40 GMT

Church Family,

July 13 marks the first Sunday of Rev. Brian Price’s tenure as our Minister of Music. As he begins this week in worship preparation, practicing with praise team and choir, getting to know us, and facilitating musical worship, would you pray for him and his family.

Pray for their transition here. Pray for Brian in his role as musical worship leader. Continue to pray for our Elders, Deacons, Staff, and other church leaders as we navigate a busy summer season. Mark your calendars for the July 20 Member Meeting. We have some important updates for you on several items.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

VBS Wrap-Up

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:01:20 GMT

What a week at VBS! Thank you to all the servant-leaders who gave of their time last week for the children in our church and community. We journeyed to Egypt with Joseph to learn how God gave Joseph wisdom and the grace to forgive.

Several our children continued conversations about the gospel, and we had one to make a profession of faith. Our mission is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus, and the time invested last week by teens and adults helped dozens of children forward on their journey as Christ-followers!

Thank you for participating in our mission!

VBS and Fulfilling Our Mission by Serving

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:09:44 GMT

We’re in the middle of VBS as I write this. Annually, VBS is one of our most significant children’s and outreach events.

This year, we’re traveling with Joseph to Egypt following his journey from the pit, to Potiphar’s house, to prison, and finally to the palace. It is so encouraging to see so many children involved whose parents want them to learn the lessons about deliverance from God’s Word. It is even more encouraging to see the small army of servant leaders (students and adults) present and engaged in ministry this week.

Our mission at WBC is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. This week, we have around 100 student and adult leaders giving the equivalent of a part-time job to the communication of Scripture to children and their families.

If you’re one of those serving , THANK YOU! May God bless and use our service this week to spread his gospel and bring children and their families to faith in Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Father's Day and Parenthood

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:36:34 GMT

With last Sunday being Father’s Day, I wanted to include some ideas that I shared in my sermon yesterday. If you are a parent or grandparent, the post below details several of the specific and intentional values that I’m trying to imbed in my boys’ life. I would commend to you the books referenced and the values listed as a defining point for you being intentional about parenting and grand-parenting.

Excerpt From Chris' Blog Titled Intentional Parenting

"Last year, I read Jon Tyson’s book, The Intentional Father. Tyson writes about raising sons with courage and character in a world whose values are often in direct competition to biblical values. As a father of two sons, his book challenged and convicted me.

Our children are learning so many things from the culture around them. Most of the technologies that we interact with are simply not neutral. See Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation. The values of the culture are more often shaped by the “prince of this world” (Ephesians 2:2) than they are the Bible’s values. These realities convicted me to be more intentional about what I’m teaching my sons."

Wilderness Seasons

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:11:11 GMT

Church Family,

We had a wonderful start to the summer series, “Sovereignty and Struggle: Hope from the Bible’s Songbook.” If you know someone going through a wilderness season, encourage them to watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon in the coming week.

We also observed baptism with two adult men publicly declaring their allegiance to Jesus as Lord and Savior. God is continuing to bless WBC. May we not take his blessings for granted. Let’s be thankful for what God is doing. Let’s keep inviting friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to worship with us. Let’s be intentional about leading our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus.

VBS is less than two weeks away, and is an excellent opportunity for us to spread the gospel by serving the children of our church and community through VBS--June 22-26 .

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

VBS is June 22-26

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:14:24 GMT

Church Family,

With VBS right around the corner (June 22-26) make plans to live out our church’s mission through VBS involvement. Every adult and teen that serves and leads at VBS is helping display and declare the gospel to children in our church and community. Our mission is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating.

You can engage in our mission by serving at VBS . Better yet, sign up to serve and invite someone to serve alongside you. That’s one way we fulfill the fourth mission step and replicate leaders. Follow the link below to register as a volunteer for VBS. Also, on June 10-11, the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention will take place. Pray for our denominational gathering next week.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Remembering Our Mission

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 28 May 2025 22:27:16 GMT

Evaluating Our Role in Our Church's Mission

Church Family,

Our mission at Wilkesboro Baptist Church is to lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus by worshiping, learning, serving, and replicating. Part of our job as staff and elders is to evaluate how we’re doing on our mission.

Here are some questions to ask yourself. Am I gathering for worship regularly? How is my engagement in congregational worship? Am I listening to God through his Word and prayer daily? Am I sharing what I’m learning in a group ( Sunday school , discipleship group, Bible study) regularly? How am I serving others personally? Corporately? Who am I leading to their next step in following Jesus? These and other evaluation questions help us engage our mission responsibilities at WBC.

VBS is just around the corner and is a great way to participate in our mission. We’ll be communicating the gospel to our children throughout the week. Our volunteers and leaders will get a chance to serve and to replicate. Keep praying for WBC in the days ahead as we work through strategic plans and identify areas for growth and transformation.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

May Business Meeting Summary

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Fri, 23 May 2025 14:58:01 GMT

Summary of the May 2025 Business Meeting

Our Member Meeting for Sunday afternoon May 18 was eventful. We announced a vote of 97% approval for our next Minister of Music. He will announce to his church in a couple of weeks, so we will wait until that happens to make a public announcement on our website/social media. We anticipate his first Sunday will be July 13.

We also announced Diana Mathis as our new Preschool Director (detailed announcement can be found in this Beacon). The church approved additional Missions distributions from the surplus as well as church staff bonuses.

The church also received updates and approved a motion from the Strategic Planning Committee. Here is the approved motion: The Strategic Planning Committee makes a motion to allocate $35K to get an architect from Church Interiors to meet with the strategic planning committee to provide recommendations and options for renovating or building a new building. The two updates were: 1) making the church aware of the plans to send a letter of inquiry to surrounding properties regarding the possibility of additional property for parking and expansion 2) announcing a WBC Vision Fund for expansion and building. The Strategic Planning Committee has been diligent to consider a significant variety of ideas after meeting five times between the March and May Member Meetings. The meeting with the architect and anticipated conceptual drawings will take several months to finalize. The Strategic Planning Committee believes this research and planning step will give us a clear idea of what is possible regarding renovation/expansion as well as a close to accurate analysis of cost. I want to thank you for your continued generous support of WBC as we lead our neighbors and the nations to follow Jesus.

Pray for Elders, Staff, Deacons, and the Strategic Planning Committee as we examine growth trends and explore solutions for leading more people in our community to follow Jesus.

Hosting Candidate for Minister of Music

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 07 May 2025 20:07:40 GMT

Welcoming Music Minister Candidate

Church Family,

This weekend May 10-11 we will be hosting our WBC Minister of Music candidate and his family in view of a call. He seems to be a good fit for our church theologically and methodologically. In his interviews with our search committee and elders, he has exhibited humility, teamwork, and competency in worship leadership. He is gifted at integrating praise team, choir, instruments, and singers in congregational worship leadership. Some reminders about the weekend.

The Schedule

Saturday at 10am he will work with the choir in preparation for Sunday worship. Saturday at 11am he will work with the praise team. Saturday between 5:30 and 7:00pm will be a meet and greet in the fellowship hall. Sunday, he will lead in all three services. The vote will take place by ballot on Sunday May 18 with the results announced at the May 18 Member Meeting at 5:30pm.

Please pray for him and his family as they consider WBC and for us as we consider him. To the moms who read this email, we want to say thank you. For so many of us, our spiritual lives are indebted to your prayers, conversations, and love. To those who are grieving the loss of your mother, we grieve with you. To those who long to be moms, we groan with you. To those moms who are suffering the spiritual wandering of children and grandchildren, we pray with you. May God strengthen, comfort, and bless you as moms this weekend.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Music Minister Candidate

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:37:18 GMT

Church Family,

You will receive a letter this week from the Minister of Music Search Committee officially introducing our candidate for Minister of Music. In the coming weeks, you will see a video introduction as well as have the opportunity to meet the candidate. Please continue to pray for WBC during this process of introduction, presentation, and vote. I want to say a special thank you to the Minister of Music Search Committee (Michelle Sullivan, Chair; LuAnn Love; Alisa Anderson; Molly Nichols; Terry Carroll; Larry Gray; Brandon Johnson). We are grateful for the work of Shepherd Staffing as well for providing us candidates and searching on our behalf. And now a brief word for our members/attenders.

Spring is always a busy season with the end of school, year end programming for church events, sports, holidays, and preparation for summer events, trips, and schedules. We calendar and plan for what is important to us. Think trips, graduations, vacations, important meetings, etc. Don’t let the busyness of the season or of your life push God off of your calendar. If you share a family calendar, how about putting several things on your calendar for the next couple of months: Sunday AM worship services, Member Meeting May 18 at 5:30 PM. We need the rhythms of worship (see the Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20), rest (Gen. 1; Hebrews 4), and community (Acts 2:42-47). Hope to see you and worship with you this week!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Chris

Celebrating the Resurrection

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:59:53 GMT

Thank You for Celebrating with Us!

Thank you for celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus with us on Sunday!

What a day of celebration and worship. I want to thank you for several things. First, thank you for being here, worshiping, and participating in the life of the church. Second, thank you for inviting friends, family, and neighbors. We had one of the largest-attended Sundays in recent memory. Third, thank you for parking off campus. We needed almost all the additional parking we had, especially during our 9:30 worship and Sunday school window.

God is at work. We’re talking with people weekly who are making decisions regarding Christ, church, and following him. Keep praying, inviting, and if you are able, keep parking away. This Wednesday night, we will begin a three-week series (April 23, 30, May 7) through the Song of Songs, addressing marriage, relationships, and intimacy. You will not want to miss our adult Bible study time as we work through this important topic.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Chris

Passion Week

chefner@wilkesborobaptist.org (Chris Hefner) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 21:19:43 GMT

Church Family,

This is Passion Week, the most influential week ever in the course of human history. It was Jesus’ passion week some two thousand years ago that Jesus introduced a New Covenant with his followers through the intersection of the Passover and the Lord’s Supper. It was Jesus’ passion week where Jesus shed tears in Gethsemane, was arrested, tried, and faced the injustice of trials from religious leaders and Roman authorities.

It was Jesus’ passion week where Jesus was beaten, brutalized, and crucified--where he suffered and was sacrificed--where he became sin for us--where he became a curse, took the hate of the devil, and experienced the wrath of God. As we consider Jesus’ passion week, we should lament, confess, repent, and see Jesus’ death on the cross as the means of our salvation and forgiveness. Even though passion week ended in death, darkness, and the grave, that was not the final word.

On the first day of the week, Jesus rose! Jesus’ resurrection affirms his sacrifice on the cross and declares his victory over our enemies--sin, death, and the devil. This week, we should lament. Sunday, we should celebrate. Each service on Sunday will be alike (8:00, 9:30, 11:00). If you are able to park off campus, please do. See our off campus parking options here . Invite someone to worship with us as we celebrate the Risen Savior!

Grace and Peace

Pastor Chris,